This interactive workshop will help teachers strengthen their ability to analyze student spelling and match the instruction to the need. Spelling errors can reveal a lot about how students process language. Participants will examine student work, then categorize errors patterns to uncover the best approach to instruction. Teachers will leave with a clear process for identifying spelling difficulties and a set of practical instructional tools to support students. This course is aimed at elementary/middle school level instruction, but it is also appropriate for high school educators who teach reading and spelling.
Upon completion, participants will be able to:
- Collect and interpret spelling data using informal assessments and writing samples
- Categorize spelling errors by phonology (sounds), orthography (spelling patterns), and morphology (meaningful word parts)
- Identify recurring error patterns by analyzing where errors occur within words (e.g., vowels, endings, syllables, bases/affixes)
- Create a brief spelling profile that summarizes a student’s strengths, needs, and high-priority instructional targets
- Select and practice targeted instructional strategies aligned to students’ specific spelling error patterns and learning needs